Metodo

International Studies in Phenomenology and Philosophy

Book | Chapter

188796

Neuroimaging of post-stroke depression

Nicolás Fayed Laura Viguera

pp. 379-386

Abstract

The prevalence of depression after stroke is approximately 33%. Depression in this setting is linked to a high psychological distress. Many of these patients face poor detection and treatment, thus jeopardizing their quality of life and rehabilitation, as well as increasing their mortality.The beneficial effects of early treatment and rehabilitation have been the focus of prior research. Reduction in mortality with antidepressant treatment has also been reported.Most authors concur that there is a multifactorial origin of post-stroke depression. Moreover, white matter disease, cerebrovascular dysregulation, altered neuroplasticity, and changes in glutamate neurotransmission might also be relevant etiological factors.Neuroimaging studies, particularly magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), seem promissory describing associations between specific areas injured by stroke and depression symptoms. MRI has improved morphological definition as compared with computed tomography (CT) or other imaging techniques. The classification and size of the stroke, especially in deep gray matter structures, are improved with this technique. Also, the implementation of new MR techniques such as functional MRI (fMRI), MR volumetry, MR diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and MR spectroscopy (MRS) allows further detection of subtle functional, white matter, or metabolic abnormalities in the brain.There is an urgent need to improve recognition and diagnosis of post-stroke depression. Neuroimaging can have an important role here, and it is an area where further research would certainly improve clinical practice.

Publication details

Published in:

Mesones Arroyo Humberto Luis (2019) Psychiatry and neuroscience update: from translational research to a humanistic approach - volume iii. Dordrecht, Springer.

Pages: 379-386

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-95360-1_31

Full citation:

Fayed Nicolás, Viguera Laura (2019) „Neuroimaging of post-stroke depression“, In: H. Mesones arroyo (ed.), Psychiatry and neuroscience update, Dordrecht, Springer, 379–386.